| Teens are usually blessed with supple skin that | | | | your face to break out. In fact, acne is |
| somehow survives acne even if it causes several | | | | aggravated by getting too much of one kind of |
| years of grief. Adults who have acne usually have | | | | essential fatty acids and not getting enough of |
| to be a lot more careful. Adult acne skin care | | | | another. |
| requires a different set of considerations. Here | | | | The n-6 essential fatty acids that are found in |
| are seven examples of why half the acne advice | | | | corn oil, soybean oil, lard, and almost all processed |
| out there just does not apply to adults who have | | | | foods encourage the creation of inflammatory |
| acne. | | | | hormones. The n-3 fatty acids in olive oil, almond |
| Acne Myth #1. Acne is just hormonal. It will go | | | | oil, rice bran oil, and fish oils encourage the |
| away when hormones calm down. | | | | creation of anti-inflammatory hormones. Your |
| Like most acne myths, the idea that acne will just | | | | body needs both kinds of hormones, because |
| go away when hormones are balanced is true. In | | | | there are really are times inflammation is a good |
| most teens, there is a surge of testosterone | | | | thing, such as when it kills bacteria, but too much |
| around puberty that results in acne for a few | | | | inflammation is not a good thing in your skin. To |
| years later, and no matter what they do, the | | | | clear up your skin, eat less of the n-6 fat and |
| acne does eventually go away (although it can | | | | more of the n-3 fat, and just don't go wild eating |
| leave physical and mental scars). In adults, | | | | chocolate. A piece of chocolate every day won't |
| however, if there is a problem with testosterone | | | | hurt your skin. |
| imbalance that causes acne, it isn't just going to | | | | Acne Myth #5. Washing your skin gets rid of |
| go away. There are herbal products such as | | | | acne. |
| chrysin that can help balance hormones, but often | | | | Cleansing acne-affected skin is important, but |
| an endocrinologist's help is essential. | | | | washing can do more harm than good. Avoid |
| Acne Myth #2. Acne is caused by oily skin. Dry | | | | abrasive cleansers. If you injure the skin over a |
| out your skin, and acne blemishes will disappear. | | | | pore, it will tend to close up. And if you do use a |
| This is probably the single most damaging myth | | | | cleaner with microdermabrasive particles, let the |
| about adult acne skin care. Oily skin does not | | | | cleaner do the work. You don't need to rub the |
| cause acne. Oil that is trapped in skin is what | | | | skin to get rid of dirt. The cleanser is designed to |
| causes acne. As long as the skin is supple and | | | | do the work for you. Wash your face with warm |
| pores are open, acne isn't going to be a major | | | | water, not hot or cold. Hot water causes skin to |
| problem. If you dry out your skin, however, you'll | | | | flake, covering up pores, and cold water |
| close up some pores and leave flakes of dead | | | | constricts pore. And, especially if you have dry or |
| skin on top of others. Drying out skin blocks the | | | | sensitive skin, pat your skin dry. Don't rub it dry |
| pores that later develop acne. | | | | with a towel. Rubbing can cause irritation that |
| Acne Myth #3. Acne is a bacterial infection. Get | | | | blocks pores, and the additional contact with a |
| rid of the bacteria, and you will get rid of the | | | | dirty towel can spread acne bacteria and other |
| bacteria. | | | | bacteria all over your face. |
| This adult acne skin care myth is also partially | | | | Acne Myth #6. Don't moisturize acne-affected |
| correct. Acne-affected pores do contain an | | | | skin. You need to let it dry out. |
| overgrowth of bacteria. The problem is, some of | | | | Even if you have oily skin, from time to time you |
| the treatments that get rid of the relatively | | | | will need a moisturizer. Moisture in the skin and on |
| harmless acne bacteria invite staph and strep | | | | the skin keeps pores open so they can drain and |
| bacteria in their place. Benzoyl peroxide, in | | | | acne bacteria are kept in check. |
| particular, has this side effect. Benzoyl peroxide | | | | Acne Myth #7. Acne is a minor condition. If you |
| washes kill Propionibacterium acnes, the common | | | | are concerned about acne, you really must be |
| acne "bug." But they don't kill staph germs. | | | | self-absorbed. |
| Calendula and tea tree oil together, however, kill | | | | Acne is more than disfiguring. It can cause |
| not just acne bacteria but staph and strep, too. | | | | physical pain as well as emotional pain. |
| Acne Myth #4. Eating chocolate causes acne. | | | | Complications of acne can even extend beyond |
| There really is such a thing as eating too much | | | | the skin to the eyes and joints. Treating acne is a |
| chocolate, but unless you happen to be allergic to | | | | perfectly reasonable expectation of good health |
| chocolate or the milk sugars with which it is | | | | care, and you are entitled not just to healthy skin, |
| commonly combined, eating chocolate won't cause | | | | but to a healthy life. |